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Whether you’re in a casino or playing online, video poker can be a good way to add a little action to a lazy afternoon or make for a fun evening. However, there are common issues that beginners and veterans can run into. We’re going to walk through a few typical issues video poker players encounter and detail how to overcome them.
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Video Poker Strategy: How to avoid common problems and win
What are the most common issues that video poker players struggle with?
Playing too fast
Have you ever thrown away a card that you meant to keep? You were probably playing too quickly. Mistakes happen, even to seasoned video poker veterans.
Slow down, take your time, and make sure you’ve selected the right cards to keep, and then see the draw. It’s common for players to want to play as fast as possible and get in extra hands. You’ll be better off by playing at a slower pace, reviewing decisions, and focusing on your hand.
Over the long term, this will cut down on mistakes and help you maximize profits. This will also enable you to play fewer hands for longer. Meaning you’ll have fewer losing hands and extend your play time.
Avoid distractions
If you’re playing video poker, you need to focus on the game. Distractions can take the form of, well, anything. From lights and bells at a casino to your spouse asking you to take out the trash, distractions are all around you.
It’s not easy, but you either need to avoid allowing yourself to lose focus or at least learn to ignore distractions.
Casino noise is easy to mitigate. All you have to do is get a good pair of noise-cancelling earphones, and you’re in your own little world with just you and the machine. The sounds of slot machines just fade away, and you’re able to lock in. It also helps to train your mind to ignore outside influences, but it may be easier to stop distractions at a casino than in your own home.
Noise at home? That’s different. Noise-cancelling headphones rarely deter wives or kids. If you can steal a few hours late at night, or find some privacy in a home office. You could try hiding in the bathroom, but you can only pretend to take a dump for so long.
Do your best to stay out of high-traffic areas, find the quietest spot you can, and hope you can go at least an hour without someone needing you to do something.
Not using promos
If you see a coupon or a deal at the supermarket, you jump on it, right? Why not do the same with casinos? For example, if you use the promo code SGPN when signing up at MyBookie.ag gets you a 100% deposit bonus up to $1,000 and a $10 casino chip.
A lot of folks either miss promos or fail to take advantage. If a casino is willingly giving you an advantage, by all means, take it.
Not Playing Maximum Coin Bet
Most video poker machines offer incentives on Royal Flushes for max coin bets. If you’re looking to maximize profits, this is the best option for players that are able to play long-term.
If you play max coin on most machines, you should get up to 4,000 coins on a Royal Flush. However, if you only play one coin, that’s usually only 1,000 coins. Over the long term, playing max coin will add expected value over the long term.
Not sticking to a strategy
If you go in with a plan, stick with the plan. A lot of video poker players often start with a specific strategy but get frustrated or distracted and deviate.
Video poker strategy often depends on the game you’re playing. You’ll want to take a different approach to Jacks or Better than you would Deuces Wild or Joker’s Wild.
With Jacks or Better, you only focus on hands that will earn money, and it’s perfectly fine to throw away low pairs to chase stronger hands. In Deuces Wild or Joker’s Wild, you would never do that in case you can triple up on the draw.
You also may look to chase inside straights in a Deuces Wild or Joker’s Wild machine. It’s not a winning strategy to chase inside straights in Jacks or Better.
Lastly, playing video poker is meant to be fun. Your time on a video poker machine shouldn’t cause additional stress in your life. You get enough of that from work, family, and sports gambling. If you find your blood pressure rising, get up, take a walk, throw on your earphones, and listen to the latest episode of the Sports Gambling Podcast.
